According to judge Chris Hill, the homebred Gamlake Destry Sallie put all the pieces together for a championship.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” he said during the grand selection. “When this aged cow walked in, (Associate Judge) Robert (Teixiera) and I said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ This cow is on the money today. She has a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful rear view. She’s youthful, walks on a great set of feet and legs, has a beautiful uphill run, and is just the right size.”
The Excellent-93 point cow sports an Excellent-96 point mammary system and has been a favorite of her owner Samantha Gambonini since birth.
Following Sallie in the class as Reserve Champion was Lovhill Braxton Funky-ET. The cow from Owatonna, Minn., was exhibited by Joseph, Zach, Jerome, and Darian Stransky. When she was named Reserve Senior Champion, Judge Hill complimented her power through her front end.
The pair of aged cows were followed by Intermediate Champion and first place fall yearling in milk, Lellavan Avalanche Fuji. She was exhibited by Brandon Almeida and the Borba (Frank and Diane Borba) grandchildren. There are two sets of siblings Frankie, Jax, and Harrison Borba and siblings Charlotte, Amelia, and Louis Borba of Central California. The Reserve Intermediate Champion was the winning Junior 3-year-old Butlerview Door Aleah exhibited by Christian Cunningham of Penngrove, Calif.
Junior Champion honors went to Kaelyn, Kenadee, and Keegan Weigel of Platteville, Wis. Their heifer Budjon-Abbott Alexandra-ET won the Winter Yearling class. Reserve Junior Champion honors went to Hatee Jacoby Paris, the second place Winter Yearling. She was exhibited by Alyson and Kenlee Philips of Lingleville, Texas.
The champion bred and owned heifer was Savage-Leigh Lalas First-ET exhibited by Chase Savage of Union Bridge, Md.
The author is an associate editor. She covers feeding and nutrition, youth activities, and heads up the World Dairy Expo Supplement. Maggie was raised on a 150-cow dairy near Valley Center, Kansas, and graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in agricultural communications and animal sciences.
